The City of Kenosha gave residents a detailed look at its latest redevelopment proposal for the former McKinley Elementary and KTEC West properties. The plan, presented at a public meeting on Tuesday, envisions a 5.6‑acre mixed‑use site that would host 28 single‑family homes and a nearly 1.5‑acre neighborhood park.
Housing details
Each of the proposed homes would feature three bedrooms and two bathrooms, with floor plans ranging from roughly 1,200 to 1,500 square feet. “We want them to fit into the context of the neighborhood,” said Abby Huff of Kenosha City Development. “We want people to move into the neighborhood, but we want those neighbors that are there to feel comfortable with the project.”
Park and streetscape improvements
The new park would provide open green space, playground equipment, and walking paths for families and seniors. In addition, the plan calls for extending 56th Street through the former school site to connect with 30th Avenue. City officials say the extension will improve neighborhood connectivity, give emergency vehicles faster access, and enhance drainage in the area.
Community response
Neighbors who felt left out of earlier discussions voiced cautious optimism. Dino Marchesini, a resident of the area for 47 years, said the visual renderings look promising but he still has questions about traffic and overall impact. “As it looks on the surface, it looks great,” he said. “My concern is what’s going to happen with the roads and the neighborhood. But the homes that they’re proposing, I think it’s good.”
Next steps
The designs are not final. The city noted that final home layouts and park amenities will be refined once a developer is selected. The planning commission will continue to hold public meetings to gather feedback before moving forward with any contractual agreements.
Background
Last year, TMJ4 reported that the city was considering roughly 30 residential lots and a neighborhood park for the former school site. At that time, some residents expressed frustration that they were not included in the planning process. Tuesday’s meeting was intended to provide a more transparent view of the updated proposal and to address those earlier concerns.
The redevelopment aligns with Kenosha’s broader goal of revitalizing underused parcels, increasing affordable homeownership options, and expanding public recreation space for its growing population.
Original reporting: Kenosha.com — read the source article.
